Wins and losses don’t matter in this softball league.
But having fun does.
Every fall and spring, Idlewild Baptist Church (IBC) in Lutz hosts a softball league for the special needs community in Tampa Bay.
It’s called the IBC Champions Division.
And, together it brings children and adults of all ages, with varying physical and mental disabilities.
Some players have autism. … [Read more...]

Whenever she competes, 12-year-old Danielle Kanas gives it her all.
And that mindset has worked for the Martinez Middle School seventh-grader, who ran, swam, threw and jumped her way to 15 gold medals and six national records this summer at the Adaptive Sports USA Junior Nationals in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Kanas — a single-arm amputee, missing her left arm below the elbow — recently added … [Read more...]

Adam Hassan is a step closer to his goal of playing professional soccer.
Hassan is bypassing his junior year at Steinbrenner High School to enter the D.C. United U-17 Academy, a youth and development program for the Major League Soccer (MLS) club D.C. United.
He will be among a rare group of about 20 players chosen to join the Academy, which scouts regionally and internationally for … [Read more...]

Two of the area’s top pitchers are postponing their pro careers — for now.
Sunlake High School’s Tommy Mace and Steinbrenner High’s CJ Van Eyk — both selected in the middle rounds of June’s MLB Draft — have opted to forgo professional baseball contracts, and instead attend in-state Division I programs.
Mace, drafted in the 12th round (347th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds, will pitch at … [Read more...]

Coming off a calendar year of fast-pitch softball, the Lutz Leaguerettes have taken another step forward.
The girls recreational softball league recently announced the completion of several new capital improvement projects at both Oscar Cooler and Nye parks.
Some of the highlights:
Field refurbishments, including new clay and magnetic break-free bases on all five fields
Outdoor … [Read more...]

Through 38 years of organized youth tackle football, the 2016 fall varsity season will go down as one of the Lutz Chiefs’ most dominant ever.
They went 14-1.
They were crowned Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) Super Bowl champs.
And, they won “The Battle of the Bay,” toppling the best Pinellas County had to offer.
All told, it was a remarkable year for the Chiefs … [Read more...]

Justin Dargahi, a record-holding three-point shooter, has added a few new challenges for 2016 and beyond.
First: Turn around the struggling Gaither High girls varsity basketball program.
Next: Set the world record for most three pointers made by a pair, in one minute.
Dargahi — the Guinness World Record for the most 3s made from NBA range (23 feet, 9 inches) in one minute (26) — first … [Read more...]

The 2016 high school football season is just around the corner, and several teams in The Laker/Lutz News’ Hillsborough County coverage area enter the year with intriguing storylines, standout players and must-see matchups.
Carrollwood Patriots
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (10th year)
2015 record: 7-4
Spring Game result: 14-7 loss to Victory Christian
Freedom Patriots
Coach: Floyd Graham (1st … [Read more...]

After 37 years, the Lutz Leaguerettes girls’ softball organization has discontinued its slow-pitch leagues.
The decision was made due to dwindling registration figures, and an overwhelming preference for fast-pitch, which was first introduced in the spring.
A survey and questionnaire by players and parents showed a 92-to-4 vote in favor of fast-pitch over slow-pitch, said Mike Cook, … [Read more...]

The Gaither High School’s varsity boys basketball team hasn’t had a winning season since 2006, but new head coach Jose Jordan wants to change that losing trend.
“We need to raise the expectations,” said Jordan, who is stepping into the new role after spending the past four seasons as the program’s junior varsity (JV) coach.
Jordan replaces Dwayne Olinger, who resigned after 16 seasons — … [Read more...]

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The AARP Safe Drive Course will be offered May 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. To register, call Beverly Cogdill at (813) 907-3908. … [Read More...]

The New River Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, will host a free senior movie May 25 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A children’s movie, with popcorn, will be shown May 26 at 2 p.m. For details, call (813) 788-6375. … [Read More...]

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. Macinnes Place in Tampa, will host the Raymond James Pops in a “Patriotic Salute” May 25 at 8 p.m. The orchestra will salute the American spirit with music from John Philip Sousa to John Williams, and others. Tickets start at $15. For information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org. … [Read More...]

Brooksville Main Street will host a “Un-Common-Ly Artsy” event May 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the City of Brooksville Uptown Art Gallery, 201 Howell Ave. There will be fine artists, crafters and makers, as well as food trucks. For information, visit Un-Common-Ly Artsy on Facebook. … [Read More...]

Moore-Mickens Education and Vocational Center, 38301 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., in Dade City, will host a Community Enrichment Day May 26 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Volunteers are invited to come out and clean up monumental landmarks in the county. Choose a time to help. Refreshments will be served. For information, call (352) 518-8008. … [Read More...]